1. Seattle: Creating Progressive Funding for Urgent Public Needs
John Burbank
Economic Opportunity Institute
June 14, 2017

2. What’s Wrong with Regressive Taxes: Our tax system punishes poor and middle class residents and rewards the wealthy

16. Early Learning and Child Care
current wages
modest improvement
closer to K-12 standards
Supervisors $ $ $
Lead Teachers $ $ $
Assistant Teachers $ $ $

17. Seattle: Why We Need An Income Tax
The Problem:
We have the most regressive state and local tax system in the country
We are unable to raise the revenues necessary for education and social services
We are in a perpetual fiscal crisis.
Adding to the Problem:
The Legislature will not put in place an income tax.

18. What urgent needs could the income tax finance for housing, homelessness, and the green economy?
Build and preserve affordable housing $50,000,000
Fund tiny house villages $10,000,000
Fund the Equitable Development Initiative $10,000,000
City contributions to community land trusts
(purchase of land and properties) $10,000,000
Weatherization/solarization for rental housing $15,000,000
Seattle Schools Retrofit $ 5,000,000
Community solar programs $ 5,000,000

19. What urgent educational needs could the income tax finance for education?
Free community college tuition $16,000,000
Universal Pre-K $50,000,000
Career and wage ladder for child care
teachers and caregivers $ 5,000,000
Transit passes for all students $ 5,000,000
Safe Routes to Schools – sidewalks $ 5,000,000
Total $186,000,000

20. It’s up to you to decide how Seattle can meet our urgent public services while not pushing more regressive taxes onto the middle class and working class families in our city.